Great Lives

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Factual: Life Stories

Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.

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Great Lives: Noddy Holder on Chuck Berry

Noddy Holder on Chuck Berry

BBC Radio 4 - Great Lives, Noddy Holder on Chuck Berry

Slade frontman Noddy Holder champions the life of rock 'n' roll pioneer Chuck Berry.

Chuck Berry became a star in the 1950s with songs like Maybellene and Johnny B. Goode. Slade frontman Noddy Holder discusses the good (and bad) of a rock 'n' roll pioneer.

In 1972 Chucky Berry was onstage in Coventry.  Seeking some audience participation Chuck launched into a cover of an unusual novelty record called 'My Ding-a-Ling'. 

One of the men who can be heard in the crowd singing about their "Ding-a-Ling' was Noddy Holder whose band Slade were supporting Berry on his UK tour.  This track became Berry's only UK number one and by default, one of Noddy's seven.  Paul Gambaccini also saw Berry live in the 1970s and remembers him playing hits like 'Johnny B. Goode' and 'Maybellene', but never performing for a minute longer than the agreed contracted length of his set.  

Paul and Noddy join Matthew Parris to discuss the life of this influential pioneer who along with Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard is said to have invented rock n roll.  They talk about Berry's musical influences, his rise to stardom, his shrewd approach to business and some of the darker moments that blight Berry's legacy. 

Produced by Toby Field for BBC Audio, Bristol.

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